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Passengers allege being held against will on California plane tarmac, 2 others detained

Associated Press
Published 8:05 a.m. ET Jan. 11, 2019

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As the partial government shutdown continues, federal workers might miss this week's paychecks. The federal agency tasked with guaranteeing U.S. airport security acknowledged an increase in the number of its employees calling off work. (Jan. 7)
AP

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two passengers on an Aeromexico flight were detained Thursday and others called 911 to say they were being held against their will as the plane sat for hours on the tarmac at Oakland International Airport, officials said.

Flight 622 from Guadalajara was scheduled to land at San Francisco International Airport but was diverted due to fog and landed at Oakland at about 10:30 a.m., airport spokeswoman Keonnis Taylor said.

The plane sat for about four hours. Passengers complained that for much of the time they had no air conditioning and received no food or water. Some called 911 to report they were being held against their will, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.

The plane sat for about four hours. Passengers complained that for much of the time they had no air conditioning and received no food or water.(Photo11: HO, AFP/Getty Images)

Sheriff's units also responded to reports of an unruly passenger who was threatening to open the emergency door exit as the flight crew tried to stop him, Sgt. Ray Kelly said.

That man and another passenger were detained for interfering with an aircraft and flight crew but after talking to the men, they were allowed to leave without being arrested, according to the Sheriff's Office.

One woman who said she had trouble breathing was given oxygen and taken to a hospital.

Passengers were finally allowed to head to the terminal Thursday afternoon.

Oakland airport said in a statement that it is an airline's decision whether to await clearance to return to the original destination or let passengers deplane at the diversion airport.

Aeromexico said in a statement that it has no Oakland operations and needed special authorization from airport authorities to disembark passengers.

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Iceland:While Iceland is a relatively short flight from the East Coast, its pricey reputation has also kept many travelers at a distance. But that should change in 2019. “Right now, the U.S. dollar is worth 20 percent more than it was in early 2018,” says Mero Geesey of Carpe Mundo, a travel agency that specializes in Iceland. “There have also been a lot of new hotels and guesthouses that have opened up within the last year, and several new tour operators offering glacier hikes, snorkel tours and more.” Getty Images/iStockphoto

Hawaii: Affordable airfare is making the everyman’s bucket-list trip a reality for 2019 (and we’re not just talking about flights from the West Coast). Multiple major airlines announced new routes to Hawaii, creating fierce competition for the best fares — a trend that’s expected to continue in 2019. And while you can easily spend a pretty penny at luxury resorts, you can just as easily save with vacation rental properties steps from the beach. Art Wager, Getty Images

Lake Como, Italy: Save by staying in the historic city of Como, which offers reasonably priced lodging and is the area’s transportation hub. Free and low-cost activities include exploring the nearby nature trails and fairy-tale villages that surround the lake and riding the inexpensive Como-Brunate funicular to the Brunate, the “balcony of the Alps.” You can even enjoy a bit of luxury for less at the Lido di Cernobbio, which offers a glamorous poolside experience for less than $25 per person. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Malaysia offer an exotic vacation destination with a not-so-exotic price tag. You can stay at luxe hotels for under $200 a night — and at three- or four-stars for even less. Currently, one Malaysian ringgit is equal to 24 U.S. cents, which means your dollar will go a long way when it comes to meals and activities, too. And in many cases, you won’t even need to pull out your wallet — admission-free museums, walking tours, religious sites, and parks make it easy to save. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Curacao: Curacao is seriously underrated, and not just because of its beautiful beaches and candy-colored capital of Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Dutch-Caribbean island is also affordable, especially during the summer, when you can score round-trip flights in the $300 range from many major U.S. cities. Luxurious beachfront resorts are surprisingly affordable, too — think less than $200 per night. The food is surprisingly cheap as well, considering the island has one of the best culinary reputations in the Caribbean. Getty Images/iStockphoto

London: London is calling in 2019. “The fall in the value of the British pound means foreign visitors get more bang for their buck when visiting the U.K., with competitive prices on hotels, attractions and shopping,” says Freddie Julius of Tourist England. Airfarewatchdog predicts more flight deals to the U.K., too, noting that airfares have been decreasing with competition from low-cost carriers and the introduction of basic-economy pricing. London also offers a wealth of free museums and parks that have always made a trip across the pond a decent deal. Ales-A, Getty Images

Israel: Explore the ancient biblical sites and colorful flea markets of Jerusalem; stroll Tel Aviv’s vibrant neighborhoods; go for a hike and sample wine in the north; or float in the Dead Sea (the lowest point on earth) and Red Sea in the south — all of it can be done on a budget. Another way you’ll save? Many of the Holy Land’s hotels offer lavish, complimentary buffet breakfasts so you can eat shakshuka to your heart’s content (and, of course, you can fill up on cheap and delicious hummus and falafel everywhere you go). Getty Images/iStockphoto

El Salvador: Did you know the official currency of El Salvador is the U.S. dollar? Not only does this take the guesswork out of budgeting for a vacation, but everything is also very affordable in El Salvador, Central America’s smallest country. Admission to two of the country’s most famous sites — Joya de Cerén, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (known as the “Pompeii of the Americas”), and San Andrés, a pre-Colombian site — costs less than $5. Getty Images/iStockphoto